Potassium iodide pills available to residents near power plants

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 6:58 a.m. CDT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — People living within a 10-mile radius of the state’s six operating nuclear power plants can now obtain their free Potassium Iodide (KI) pills from one of 64 participating pharmacies.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) launched the KI distribution program in late 2012 by mailing vouchers to more than 60,000 homes within the Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) of each plant.

The vouchers can be redeemed at participating pharmacies for a two-day supply of KI for every member of the household.

KI is a non-prescription drug used to protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine, which could be released during a nuclear power plant accident. The nuclear power plants in Illinois are Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, La Salle and Quad-cities.

IEMA Director Jonathon Monken noted that while KI only protects the thyroid gland, it will provide additional protection to people living near the nuclear plants in the event of an accident. A complete list of participating pharmacies is available at the Ready Illinois website www.Ready.Illinois.gov.